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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Position Preview-Quarterback
August 13, 2002 | Football
Aug. 13, 2002
Bowling Green State University has had a long history of outstanding quarterbacks who have given defenses across the MAC fits. For the second year in a row, senior Andy Sahm and junior Josh Harris make BGSU the deepest squad, in terms of experience, at that position in the MAC.
Both players have big-game experience under their belts. Sahm is 2-0 against Gary Pinkel coached teams with wins over Toledo in 1999 and Missouri in 2001 as a starter. Harris brought a new dimension to the squad when he guided BGSU to wins over Northwestern and Toledo to end the 2001 season.
HARRIS TOOK CONTROL
Once Josh Harris was named the starting quarterback against Ohio a year ago, he put on an impressive display during the final three games of the season. In leading BGSU to three significant victories, Harris proved he could be one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the country.
In three games, he ran for 361 yards and four TDs, threw for 826 yards and eight TDs, and caught one pass for a 14-yard TD.
Harris led the Falcons in rushing with 614 yards and eight TDs and completed 60.9 percent of his passes. He threw for 1,022 yards and connected on nine TD passes.
SAHM IS READY TO LEAD AGAIN
Senior Andy Sahm will continue to fight for the top signal- caller's job. In 31 career games at BGSU, Sahm has completed 57.5 percent of his passes and thrown for 3,904 yards and 26 TDs.
Sahm started seven of the first eight games of the 2001 season and ranked fourth in the league in pass efficiency (126.1) and ninth in passing yards per game (132.6). He completed a career-best 61.6 percent of his passes last season.
WAITING IN THE WINGS
Two true freshmen will give the Falcons an opportunity to improve the depth at the position even more. Omar Jacobs was the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel's Offensive Player of the Year after completing 63 percent of his passes and throwing for 2,670 yards and 28 TDs. An impressive specimen, Jacobs stands out with his 6-4, 215-pound frame. Will Myles was an All-State selection at Chicago's St. Rita High School (the alma mater of BGSU hockey coach Scott Paluch). He threw for 1,492 yards and 12 TDs and rushed for 408 yards.
QUOTING URBAN MEYER
"Is it a controversy - yes, and I hope people are talking about it."
"The positive is that we have two really good players, two really good people, two really good students - they are just guys you want to be out on the field. They are after that job."
"They are both extremely competitive; our receivers said those quarterbacks were battling all of the time." "If Andy Sahm hit somebody on a 30-yard fade, then Josh Harris had to do it. That shows you those kids want that position."
"Defensive coordinators have told me that is an issue - they are different types of players who can both cause problems," Meyer said. "In our minds that is an extreme positive."
QUOTING ANDY SAHM
"The constant competition does make you better - you are on your toes every minute. Every rep we take, every ball we throw, we're being graded. Josh being here makes me a better quarterback, and I think I do the same for him."
"It's tough to sit out; you want to play every down." "But when you see the other guy doing well and the team scoring touchdowns and winning, you can't be anything but proud."
QUOTING JOSH HARRIS
"Ever since I got here I have been competing with Andy and he's been competing with me."
"That's a good thing because we bring out the best in each other. I've thanked him for that. As long as the Bowling Green offense is doing well and we're winning the game, that's all that we care about. As competitive as we are, our ultimate goal is to win the game."
QUOTING OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR GREGG BRANDON
"They have some different abilities, but both guys can run the offense and manage our system." Having both of them doesn't expand the playbook, but maybe within the playbook you pick and choose a little more based on their skills and what they can execute. They know we're not going to win a championship with just Josh Harris or just Andy Sahm. We're going to win a championship with 11 guys on the same page, whether Josh is running the show or Andy is. There's no question that this pushes them even more. What motivates players the best is competition."
